Color selector



O. VETTERLI Jan. 1o, 195o COLOR SELECTOR Filed Feb. V14, 1949 H/S A TTD/@NE K9.

Patented Jan. 10, 1950 UNI TED STATES PATEN fOFFLl CE yG01-.0R SELEGTGR Oran Vetterli, Albani/b Calif.

Application February 14, 1949, SeriaPNo. 76,360

7 -Claims i My invention 5relates to color .-seleotors, and more particularly to a color selector of Ythe type enabling one to preview various combinations of colors :with respect to a Iparticular `object under consideration.

In the selection -of lcolor ycombinations Afor an objeot under considera-tion, Whether -from the Viewpoint of `purchasing or vdecorating such an object, or from :the viewpoint of redecorating, recoloring or repainting an old ,or Aused item, itis desirable "to be afforded an opportunity to'preview various possible .color combinations with respect to such specific object betere determining upon a selection of colors.

.The presentinvention is designed to ulll such purpose, andw .in general, accomplishes the `same by providing a picture of such item, in which picture, ladjacent portions likely to vreceive different colorings are transparent andseparated by a line of diierentiation; and for use there; with, a :plurality of color sheets 'eac-h hav-ing an edge -coincidable with such line yof differentiation for :one position of such sheet, and a second edge also 1,,eoi-ncdable With such 'line of differentiation for another position of such sheet.

By positioning :a color .card behind such pictune with one nr lthe other of Vsuch Aedges coinciding with such vline y'of diteirentiation, fone .or another portion of :sa-id :obiect wifil present the color carried by sad card, leaving fthe adjacent portion off ithe .pictured object, transparent and `free for the presentation o'f a dilerent color cas carried by -a second -card behind the picture.

For more details of the invention -in its vpreferred form, 'reference will be `rhad to the aceompanyi-ng drawings 'wherein- Figure l 'is Aa--view of a color selector embodying the present invention and illustrating its manner of use;

Figure 2 yis a similar View with the picture sheet removed .and depictingthemanner in which the color sheets `cooperate to .present color combinations in 'proper relationship .to the object- 2 is contemplated that @the colors of sadiacentaportions wvifl'l meet.

'Thus the particular `,olzvject vunder 1consideration and illustrated in @the drawings, constitutes 7an automobile lin which lthe `:line of ,diierentiation is ithat line -W-hich separates the'body of fthe .car from the superstructure. lSuch location :of ithe line -of differentiation selected in the lillus'traftefsl case, 'because the case fof an automobile, the problem of color combination vusually involvesthe painting of the body a different color from that of the superstructure.

f [n conjunction with :this picture sheet, ipro vide'ayplurality-of color sheets -I I, 13 il5 etc, each vbeing of a different color -from vthe 4other and having 'an edge |9 'coincidable with such line o'f differentiation. In l'the present instance, Vsuch edge constitutes t'helower .edge of the color sheet.

Such 'edge in the present embodiment, fis so disposed as :to :coincide :with such line of diier' entiation when ,theisheet -is swung relative `to saidl picture sheet, about a point of 'swing 21, *to a particular position.

Each 4such ,color sheet possesses an additional edge 23 which is coincidable 'with ".the 'aforementioned line 'of differentiation when `the sheet is swung about lthe same point of swing Ato a second position. `Such latter edge could be *the upper edge ,ojf the color sheet, but in 'the illus-v, trated embodiment of fthe invention, .the edge `1n questionis formed'by a cutout 2,5 having the lgeneral size and shape ,of -,one of Y.the colorable porel tions of the picture, namely, the 4.superstructure of lthe automobile 'in `the vpresent instance. Such cut-out, among other things, ,functions as a .guide in .determining one of the .positions which the` color card mayfassume, in v,utilizing the same for' its intended purpose.

In the illustrated embodiment .ofthe invention', it nis noted that .the utilizable edges =of [each .color Card Ycoincide with lradial .lines yemanati-ng from the point of swing., rand .consequently each edler.l Card iS generally triangular rin contour with fits narrowestpointatthe ,pointofswing A '.The l,peinture Sheet, -w,ith the plurality .of color sheets ,behind it, iis ,assembled ,into ,a ,older ,2.1 :and held therein by -a rivet .2B .through `the V.point .of swing, which Yrin fthe illustrated embodiment othe invention, is llocated `.at one .end ,of I.the

' ture sheet intermediate the upper ,and lower @classent the rhurler. .,Sueh lsiasi@tri-vet holdingmeans in conjunction with the angular .shape of" the color sheets, permits of the swinging movement of each color sheet through anl angle suillcient to swing them out of range of the picture.

By making the picture sheet substantially rectangular at its attached end, the folder will substantially hold such picture sheet against movement about the swing axis.

In utilizing the color selector for its intended purpose, a trial color for the body of the automobile is selected from among these color sheets, and such sheet is then swung upwardly until the pertinent cut-out edge coincides with the line of diiferentiation, which will cause the body I to show up in the color of such sheet, while leaving the superstructure transparent by reason of the y cut-out in such sheet. A trial color may then be selected for such superstructure from among the remaining color sheets and such sheet moved upwardly to color in the remaining transparent portion of the picture. The operations-can be repeated for many different combinations of co1- ors until the most appealing combination has been determined upon.

While the illustrated embodiment of my invention has been applied to an automobile as the object under consideration, it is apparent that the underlying principles of the present invention may be applied to other objects, and accordingly while I have disclosed one specic embodiment of my inventionand in considerable detail, I do not desire to be limited in my protection to such details, except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A color selector comprising a sheet of material having a picture of an object, in which picture the colorable portions are transparent, said picture including a line of differentiation between portions of such object likely to receive different colorings; and a plurality of color sheets of different colors, each such color sheet having an edge coincidable with said line of differentiasheet, and a second edge coincidable with said line of differentiation when said color sheet is swung to a second position about said point of terial having a picture of an object, in which picture the colorable portions are transparent, said picture including a line of differentiation between portions of such object likely to receive diierent colorings; and a plurality of color sheets of different colors, each such color sheet having an edge coincidable with said line of differentiation, and a cut-out of the general size and shape of one of said portions and having an edge coincidable with said line of diierentiation.

4. A color selector comprising a sheet of material having thereon a picture of an object, in which picture the colorable portions are transparent, said picture including a line of differentiation between portions of such object likely to receive different colorings; and a plurality of color sheets of different colors, each such color sheet having an edge coincidable with said line of differentiation when said sheet is swung about a point of swing relative to said picture sheet, and a cut-out of the general size and shape of one of said portions and having an edge coincidable with said line of diierentiation when said sheet is swung about said same point of swing.

5. A color selector comprising a sheet of material having thereon a picture of an object, in which picture the colorable portions are transparent, said picture including aline of diierentiation between portions of such object likely to receive different colorings; and a plurality of color sheets of diierent colors, each such color sheet having an edge coincidable with said line of differentiation when said sheet is swung about a point of swing relative to said picture sheet, and a cut-out of the general size and shape of one of said portions and having an edge coincidable with said line of diierentiation when said sheet is swung about said same point of swing; and means pivotally securing said sheets at said point of swing.

6. A color selector comprising a sheet of material having thereon a picture of an object, in

which picture the colorable portions are transparent, said picture including a line of differentiation between portions of such object likely to receive different colorings; and a plurality of color sheets of different colors, each such color sheet having an edge coincidable with said line of dierentiation when said sheet is swung about a point of swing relative to said picture sheet, and a cut-out -of the general sizeand shape of one of said portions and having an edge coincidable with said line of differentiation when said sheet is swung about said same point of swing, each of said color sheets having sufficient area between said two edges to totally cover said picture.

'7. A color selector comprising a sheet of matehaving an edge coincidable with said line of dif' ierentiation when said sheet is swung about a point of swing relative to said picture sheet, and a cut-out of the general size and shape of one of said portions and having an edge coincidable with said line of diierentiation when said sheet' is swung about said same point of swing, each of said color sheets having suflicient area between said two edges to totally cover said picture; means substantially iixing said picturev sheet against movement with respect to said point of swing and means pivotally securing said sheets at said point of swing.

ORAN VETTERLI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED 'STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 799,609 Ludwig Sept. 12, 1905 856,222 Church June 11, 1907 Stephens Nov. 17, 1931 

